Gunnuhver Viewing Platforms

Ever-changing landscape 

The area is very fragile and can change without notice, due to volcanic activity and earthquakes. The area is within the water conservation and the Environment Agency's natural heritage register.

Material choice for fragile nature

Gunnuhver is a geothermal area in a beautiful landscape where visitors can travel around on pathways and wooden platforms. The platforms are made from larch and are chosen to resemble existing natural materials. The main emphasis was to prevent the area from unnecessary damage, where disturbed areas should be rehabilitated with local vegetation and material.

Due to constant changes in the area, a steaming of the ground increased markedly as a consequence of a pressure drawdown in the geothermal reservoir upon the start of production from the reservoir in 2006. In 2010, new pathways and viewing platforms were put into use where there is access for everyone today. It is interesting to look into what materials and solutions are best suited for an ever-changing landscape such as Gunnuhver.